Stool attachment



Oct. 6, 1942. J. o. TEMPLETON, JR

STOOL ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 13. 41940 Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE STOOL ATTACHMENT James O. Templeton, Jr.,Winchester, Tenn.

Application August 13, 1940, Serial No. 352,440

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a stool attachment for chairs and has relationmore particularly to an attachment of this kind especially designed andadapted for use in connection with chairs for dentists, barbers, etc.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindadapted to be attached to the base or other suitable part of a chair fora dentist, barber, etc., and which attachment is so constructed andassembled to place the operator close to the chair and the occupant ofthe chair in a manner whereby the operator will be required to onlyslightly bend the knees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich is at all times under the operator regardless of the position atthe chair he might assume.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of thiskind including a seat or stool so mounted as to be readily maintained inan out-of-the-way position when not in use.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved stoolattachment whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a chairattachment constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the supporting arm, the seat and itspedestal being removed;

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B denotes the base of a chairsuch as used by dentists, barbers, etc., and to which is suitablysecured, as at I, the plate 2 provided in its upper surface with araceway 3 for the anti-friction members 4 herein disclosed as ballbearings. EX- tending upwardly through the central portion of the plateI is a king pin 5 which is also directed through the inner end portionof the elongated supporting arm A. The inner end portion 6 of this arm Ais of considerable width and is provided in its under surface with araceway 'I for the bearings 3. The upper surface of the inner end of thearm A is provided with a raceway 8 for the anti-friction members 9herein disclosed as also ball bearings. These members or bearings 9 areengaged within the raceway I provided in the under face of a top plateII. The king pin is also directed through the axial center of this topplate II and threading upon the pin 5 above the plate II and in holdingcontact therewith is a nut I2. The lower end portion of the king pin 5is provided with an enlarged head I4 whichl is snugly received within asocket I5 provided in the under surface of the plate 2.

The arm A, as herein disclosed, is materially heavy and has its outerend portion I6 upwardly offset, as at II, with respect to the inner endportion 6. The inner end portion 6 and the offset portion I1 as hereindisclosed are gradually reduced in width from the inner end to the upperor forward portion I6 which, in the present embodiment of the invention,is substantially straight through its length. The portion I6 also is ina plane substantially parallel to the plane of the inner end portion 6and secured to the oiset portion I1. immediately adjacent to the innerend of the forward portion I6 is a hook member I8. This member I8 hasengaged therewith an end portion of a coil spring I9, the opposite endportion of which is engaged with a hook 20 secured at a pointsubstantially centrally of the pedestal 2I. The spring I9 is of atension to constantly pull the pedestal 2l inwardly of the arm A andwhich movement is permitted in view of the fact that the lower extremityof the pedestal 2| is pivotally connected by a removable pintle 22 withthe outer or free extremity of the forward portion I6 of the arm A. Thisportion I6 is provided therealong with the spaced openings 23 throughwhich the pintle 22 may be selectively disposed to allow adjustableplacement of the pedestal 2I upon the portion I6 of the arm A.

The inward swinging movement of the pedestal 2I is limited by contact ofthe stop member 24 with the top face of the portion I6 of the arm A.This stop member 24, as herein disclosed, comprises a shank threadingthrough a bracket 25 fixed to the lower rear portion of the pedestal 2I.It is believed to be obvious that upon desired adjustment of the stopmember 24 through the bracket 25 the inward swinging movement of thepedestal may be limited as preferred.

The pedestal 2l throughout its major portion is tubular and open at itstop as clearly illustrated in Figure l. Riveted or otherwise fixed tothe upper rear portion of the pedestal 2I is a plate 26. This plate 26extends a desired distance above the top of the pedestal 2I and isformed to provide an angularly disposed bracket 21 overlying the upperopen end of the pedestal 2l. Freely sliding through this bracket 21 isan elongated seat post 28. This post 28 is of considerable length andextends down` within the pedestal 2I. The portion of the post 28 withinthe pedestal 2l is surrounded by an expansible coil spring 29 suitablyanchored, as at 30, to the lower inserted end portion of the post 28While the opposite or upper end portion of the spring 29 is anchored, asat 3|, to the upper extremity of the pedestal 2l. The tension of thespring 29 automatically raises the post or rod 28 and, of course, suchtension is increased upon lowering of the post 28 to adjust the seat Scarried thereby to suit the operator.

Pivotally connected, as at 32, to the upper portion of the plate 26above the bracket 21 is an end vportion of an elongated locking arm 33provided therethrough with an opening 34. The rod or post 28 is disposedthrough this opening 38 and when the arm 33 is in raised position, asillustrated in Figure l, the rod 28 is effectively held in its desiredadjusted position.

The rod 28 is held against downward movement by a second elongatedlocking arm 35 having an opening 3S through which the rod 28 passes.When the arm 35 is in its downward position, as illustrated in Figure1r, it further holds the rod 28 in its desiredv adjustment. In thisFigure l it is to be noted that the inner end portion of the arm 35rests upon the upper end of the pedestal 2| in a manner to allow the arm35 to have swinging movement. The arms 33 and 35 are normally maintainedin their effective or locking positions by an interposed expansiblemember 3l, herein disclosed as a coil spring of requisite tension. Theouter end portion of the arm 33 has pivotally connected thereto, as at38, the central portion of a lever 39, the inner portion of which isconnected to the lower locking arm 35r by a exible member 40 hereinillustrated as a chain. The opposite end portion of; the lever 39 servesas a handle member so that when it is desired to release the armsV 33and 35 from locking engagement with the rod 23 it is only necessary thatthe operator give downward swinging movement to the outer or handle endportion of the lever 39.

When it is desired to maintain the pedestal 2|v in an out-of-the-wayposition, it is swung outwardly as fragmentarily indicated by brokenlines in Figure l, and the pedestal 2| is maintained inv such positionby moving beneath the stop member 24 the slide plate 4| mounted upon theupper face of the forward portion |E of the arm A. As particularlyillustrated in Figure 2, this plate 4| is provided therealong with anelongated slot 4Z through which is disposed a headed member 43 suitablyengaged with the adjacent part of the forward portion I6 of the arm A.The extent of outward positioning of the pedestal 2| can be readilyregulated by endwise adjustment of the stop member 24 through thebracket 25.

It is to be stated that in practice the pedestal 2| is of such length asto allow an adjustment of the seat S with respect thereto so that theoccupant thereof can have his feet upon the floor or other supportingsurface with his knees slightly bending. It is believed to be obviousthat the arm A will readily swing as the operator changes his positionabout the chair proper to facilitate his working upon the occupant.

The seat S may be of any construction preferred and for which reason adetailed description and illustration thereof is thought to beunnecessary other than to state that it is preferably directly securedtothe upper end portion of the rod 23 through the medium of a leafspring 44.

Before the operator occupies the seat S the rod 28 is forced inwardly ofthe pedestal 2| to bring the seat S in desired adjustment and the slideplate 4| retracted to allow the spring I9 to. pull the pedestal 2| tothe limit of its movement inwardly of the arm A.

The occupant of the seat S can readily move to desired positions aroundthe chair due to the pivotal mounting of the arm A and the spring I9will allow the pedestal 2| to swing outwardly as the occupant of theseat S leans forward or toward the chair, and the constant pulling ofthe pedestal 2| by the spring I9 will result in the seat S beingmaintained under the operator when he rises upon his feet. It is,therefore, to be particularly pointed out that the attachment as hereincomprised is of a character wherein the seat S at no time will slip orswing backwardly from beneath the operator.

Operatively engaged with the outer end portion of the arm A is a caster45 riding upon the floor whereby additional support is provided for theattachment. It is to be stated, however, that it has been fullydemonstrated in practice that it is possible to advantageously use theattachment with the caster 45 omitted.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a stoolattachment constructed in accordance with my invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility withwhich it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious thatmy invention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A chair attachment comprising an elongated arm, a pivotal mountingfor said arm, an upstanding pedestal carried by the arm, means pivotallyconnecting the pedestal to the arm for oscillatory movement thereon, aseat structure carried by the pedestal, a retractile member secured tothe arm and to the pedestal for swinging the pedestal inwardly towardthe pivoted end of the arm, an adjustable member carried by the pedestaland having Xed positions of adjustment thereon for contact with the armto limit the extent of oscillatory movement of the pedestal inwardly ofthe arm, and a slide plate carried by the arm to be moved into aposition to be engaged by the adjustable member for holding the pedestalin an outward position.

2,. A seat structure comprising an elongated arm, means pivotallysecuring one endv of the arm for swinging about a vertical axis, apedestalpivotally secured to said arm adjacent the other end forswinging movement inwardly toward the pivoted end and outwardlytherefrom, a seat supported on the pedestal, a bracket carried by thepedestal on the side adjacent the pivoted end of the arm, an adjustmentscrew carried by the bracket for contact with the arm to limit inwardswinging of the pedestal, and spring!` means connecting the pedestalwith the arm and constantly urging inward swinging movement of thepedestal.

3. A seat structure as set forth in claim 2, with a member movablySupported upon the arm and adapted to be interposed between said screwand the arm to maintain the pedestal in outwardly swung position againstthe tension of said springmeans.

JAMES O. TEMPLETON, JR.

